“‘As a scientist, I do not believe in phantoms,’ Starr Lackawanna said. ‘You’re a scientist?’ I asked. ‘Library science,” Starr Lackawanna said. ‘I have a master’s degree.’….Starr Lackawanna typed our names on three official Hoboken Public Library cards. I had her type my name as Nick Nemo. I was pretty sure she knew that wasn’t really my name – but she did it anyway.” pp. 126-127
Reader's Annotation
Ivan Itch is not happy about having just moved from the suburbs to the city. And to top it all off, his bike has just been stolen. But then he meets fellow comic book lovers, Loretta and Bruno, and the three embark on a quest to find the bike, one very large chicken, and its owner, Arthur Bobowicz.
About the Author
Daniel Pinkwater lived in a few different cities during his childhood. Although he regards Chicago as his home, it was in Los Angeles that he found an art supplies store which fascinated him, leading to his interest in drawing and writing. As a child, he won a short story contest whose prize was a subscription to National Geographic, by which he realized that writing could lead to compensation. In college he studied English, philosophy, and other subjects, but when his father threatened to end his education, he switched his major to art. Pinkwater has worked as an art teacher, and once lived at an artists’ cooperative in Africa. He began by writing picture books, and then chapter books, and has now published over 80 works in all. His wife Jill is a teacher, writer, and artist who has illustrated many of his books.
Genre
Humor, mystery
Reading Level/Interest Age
9-11 years old
Plot Summary
Ivan (Nick) Itch, who appears to be an upper elementary student, has just moved unwillingly from the suburbs to urban Hoboken, New Jersey. To make matters worse, his bike is stolen on his first day there. However, one day he discovers that there is a small hole between his basement and that of the house (converted to apartments) next door. When he calls through it on a whim, he receives a reply from Loretta and Bruno, who also appear to be tweens, and who share Nick's love of comic books. The two befriend Nick, and eventually inform him that there is a phantom who lives in their city, taking items from houses at night and replacing them with broken objects and half-eaten tuna sandwiches. One night, while the three attend a bat-catching festival at a local park, Nick briefly sees a tall figure riding his bike. The three decide to investigate, and also to find out what they can about a legendary 6 ft. chicken which reportedly appeared in Hoboken years ago. During their detective work, they meet colorful characters such as Vic Trola, pirate radio DJ; librarian Starr Lackawanna; Meehan, a homeless man; and inventor Sterling Mazzocchi. Nick, Loretta, and Bruno soon learn of a secret cave under the local park, where they believe the thief may be hiding the stolen goods. Yet their quest to find the cave's entrance will not be an easy one.
Series Note
Henrietta the chicken first appeared in Pinkwater’s 1977 Hoboken Chicken Emergency .
Critical Evaluation
A 2005 Edgar Award nominee, this novel contains as much zany humor as it does mystery, along with a few fantastical elements. Nick’s parents' carefree attitude toward his explorations of his new city is fairly exaggerated, creating the scenario of freedom and independence of which many tweens dream. Although several longer passages of the novel are narrated in the first-person by Nick, the text is perhaps 70% dialogue, which keeps things moving along at a good pace. Characterization in this novel focuses mainly on the humorous aspects of each individual’s personality, and not their inner worlds; this quick and enjoyable read is mainly plot-focused, with some observations and commentary by Nick. A very positive aspect of the novel is its promotion of the value of libraries, as the tweens repeatedly seek the assistance of librarian Starr Lackawanna with their detective work. Even after she is not much help in their first library visit, they give her another shot. The value of great literature is also emphasized, and Starr bridges the tweens’ interest in comics with the classic works upon which their favorites are based.
Booktalking Ideas
• Give an episode booktalk about Nick’s discovery of the hole in the wall of his basement
• Give a character booktalk as Nick’s father, in his humorously dated vocabulary.
• Give a character booktalk as librarian Starr Lackawanna, outlining the details of the mystery that Nick and friends are trying to solve.
Curriculum Ideas
• Literature: Share with students some actual issues of Classic Comics/Classics Illustrated (1941-1971). Students then create short comics based on their favorite books.
• Research Skills: As a class, students visit a public library and work side-by-side with a librarian to research questions they have about their city’s history.
• Music: Nick and friends enjoy the older music that Vic Trola plays on his station. Expose students to a range of musical styles from past and present, perhaps as they work on art projects.
Potential Challenge Issue & Defense
Negative generalizations about homelessness:
• Become familiar enough with the book’s content to promote its literary merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have read it.
Why I Chose This Book
I chose this book because I really enjoyed Pinkwater as a child, and wanted to read his recent writing.
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